Thursday, October 1, 2026
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Lowell, NC (WNN)- On Saturday, January 3rd, 2026, history was made at the Lowell Masonic Lodge as four Gaston County lodges officially merged to create Unity Lodge No. 462.
Presiding over the ceremony was Grand Master Steve Marion Norris who was originally appointed to the Board of Custodians for North Carolina’s Grand Lodge in 2015. He quickly progressed through the leadership of the lodge, beginning service as the Deputy Grand Master in 2025. He has also served many roles with the Shriners becoming the South Atlantic Shrine Association President in 2017.
The Lowell, Belmont, Cramerton (South Fork), and Gastonia lodges came together in a charter presentation ceremony, with officials from the Grand Lodge traveling from Raleigh to present the new charter. Other local lodges also attended the ceremony to show their support for the new Unity Lodge. The ceremony took place in the Lowell Masonic Lodge No. 590. With 450 members, Unity Lodge is now the largest Masonic lodge in North Carolina.
Blake McLean, who is a senior deacon of the Unity Lodge, says the merger is a special moment for Masonry in Gaston County. After a private ceremony, the Opening of the Grand Lodge of North Carolina, at noon, Grand Master Norris opened the public portion, the Ceremony of Installation, by reading the regulations under which all lodges are formed. Upon accepting these ancient tenets, Brother William Weber was appointed as the new master of Unity Lodge. The 2026 Officers are as follows:
Master: W.B. William C.D. Weber
Senior Warden: B. Timothy W. Waters
Junior Warden: B. Charles R. Burbage
Treasurer: W.B. Joe B Waller
Secretary: W.B. Terry D. Conner
Senior Deacon: B. Randal B. McLean
Junior Deacon: B. George D. Church, III
Senior Steward: B. Lewis E. Hunt
Junior Steward: B. Benjamin J. Mitchem
Chaplain: W.B. William B. Milton
Tyler: B. James A. Thompson
Each of these officers received the furnishings and implements of Freemasonry, as befitting their positions. Each lodge is presented with a bible, which it is the duty of the lodge’s Master to protect, as it represents the light of Freemasonry. The furnishings and tools granted to each officer would be used for the final part of the ceremony.
Each lodge must be opened by observing the commencement of its dedicated plaque. In order to do so, the presiding officers will test the plaque to make sure it is of good work and quality, as is the standard of Freemasonry. Grand Chaplain John H. Stanley began by leading a prayer and blessing for Unity Lodge No. 462.
The plaque is tested by members of the Grand Lodge using the jewels of each office. The first test representing truth and virtue is that of the Square. The Deputy Grand Master found the plaque to be square. The Senior Grand Warden was then called to test if the plaque was level. The Level represents equality and the Senior Grand Warden found it to be level. Next, the Plum, which represents rectitude of conduct, was used by the Junior Grand Warden, and the plaque was found to be plum. After these tests, Grand Master Norris dedicated the plaque and officiated Unity Lodge No. 462.
Talks about joining the four lodges began in early 2022, with members approving the plan in April. They made this choice as lodges struggled to fund repairs to keep their buildings in good shape.
The Gastonia lodge building, which is 102 years old and takes up 27,000 square feet in downtown Gastonia, became too expensive to maintain. Most members paid about $50 in dues each year, making it hard to keep the building in good condition. The Belmont and South Fork lodges also sold their buildings in recent years. Now that the lodges have conjoined to become Unity Lodge No. 462, Mclean hopes to sell the Lowell Lodge to help fund the construction of a permanent home for Lodge No. 462.
Each of the four lodges has brought its own history and traditions to the merger. Unity Lodge will continue the community service and fellowship practices established by the original lodges. The 450 members together form a group dedicated to community efforts in Gaston County.
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